NEW DELHI: Highlighting the importance of the Kosi river corridor in the Corbett tiger reserve in Uttarakhand, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said Sunday that the crucial pathway is facing a threat from upcoming resorts and hotels. Recent photos taken in the corridor, situated in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) at the heart of which lies the Corbett tiger reserve, have shown as many as 13 tigers using the pathway.

The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to implement the ambitious interlinking of rivers project in a time-bound manner and appointed a high-powered committee for its planning and implementation.

Observing that the project has already been delayed resulting in an increase in its cost, a three-judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice, Mr S.H. Kapadia, said the Centre and the State Governments concerned should participate for its “effective” implementation “in a timebound manner“.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to implement the ambitious interlinking of rivers project in a time-bound manner and appointed a high-powered committee for its planning and implementation.

Observing that the project has already been delayed resulting in an increase in its cost, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia said the Centre and the concerned State governments should participate for its “effective” implementation “in a time-bound manner”.

Nepal and India discussed on the issues related to cooperation on water resources along with agreeing to expedite the water and power projects at the first meeting of the Nepal- India Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources (JMCWR) held in New Delhi, India on February 15, 2012.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to expedite the setting up of Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA) at the earliest for implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.

India and Nepal yesterday decided to fast forward the setting up of the Pancheshwar Development Authority for the implementation of the long-pending Pancheshwar multipurpose hydel project on the Mahakali river. The Nepal-India Joint Ministerial-Level Commission on Water Resources, which met for the first time, also explored the possibility of duty-free movement of equipment to Nepal for the repair work at the Gandak project. It also recommended maintenance of 15-km stretch of the eastern Kosi embankment, presently maintained by Nepal, to be taken up by India.

The first-ever meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources between India and Nepal on Wednesday resulted in significant movements on two important issues — finalising the detailed project report of Sapta-Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme and setting up of Pancheshwar Development Authority by March 2013.

India agrees to repair Kosi embankment within Nepal

India and Nepal have agreed to speed up the setting up of a Pancheshwar Development Authority that will oversee the implementation of the 6,000 MW Pancheshwar multi-purpose project on the border.

India, Nepal to discuss setting up of Development Authority

In a major step forward to break the deadlock over construction of the multipurpose 6000-MW Pancheshwar dam on the Sarada river (Mahakali in Nepal) on the border, New Delhi and Kathmandu will discuss the logistics of setting up a Pancheshwar Development Authority at the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources here on Wednesday.

Looking at the swirling grey waters of the Bhote Koshi River, Ratna Kaji remembers when it turned into a "monster," leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.

"It came down roaring, washed away homes and people when they were sleeping," the 77-year-old said of the 1996 flood, caused by a massive landslide that blocked the river which eventually gushed out by breaking its mud wall.

"People had hardly any time to gather their belongings."

A river regulation zone (RRZ) notification should be top priority for the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to stop annual flooding of rivers in the sub-continent.

In Orissa, the state government has had to evacuate nearly one lakh residents from low-lying areas with floods having affecting 2,550 villages and 13 towns. This year alone has seen major floods in the state of UP, Punjab, Bihar, Assam and Manipur with major rivers, including Ganga, Sutlej, Kosi and Brahmaputra rivers, flowing in spate.